Shankarananda Kalakshetra / Ananda Shankar Jayant

If you are a unfamiliar with Hyderabad, you must be a stranger to Ananda. Or have a couple of words been mixed up there? Seriously, Ananda is one of the best-known dancers of Hyderabad. Currently an Additional Secretary in the Department of Youth Affairs, Tourism & Culture, and a Ph. D., Ananda has a roster of professional and personal achievements to her credit, but one of them clearly overshadows everything else.

Ananda Shankar Jayant is one of the few dancers in the city who practice purely Bharatanatyam, a dance form she believes has immense scope for exploration. While some feel this is contrary to popular belief, she insists that within the parameters of Bharatanatyam, there is space for individual creativity. Her style and stage presence is legendary, and her unusual ballets even more so. She's choreographed full-length compositions such as Jonathan Livingston Seagull, What About Me and Sri Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, and several dancers she has produced are well on their own way to fame.

Ananda is also a 'top'-grade Kuchipudi artiste of Doordarshan and an 'established' artiste of ICCR, and has been featured in major festivals in India and abroad. She was invited to perform Kuchipudi in major festivals such as at Khajuraho, the Bhagyachandra Dance Festival and Imphal.

Talent cannot leave recognition far behind. In 2003, Ananda was awarded the prestigious title of 'Kalaimamani', the highest state award given to performing artistes by the Government of Tamil Nadu. This is, of course, the tip of the award iceberg.

Success for Ananda has brought with it the desire to teach others. She conducts classes at the Keyes High School at 10am on Sunday, and in Banjara Hills from 7:00pm to 8:30pm every weekday evening. Further details can be had from Shankarananda Kalakshetra, whose Director she is.